Washing machine



Aug.11,1936. WSTROBRIGE 2,051,014'

y WASHING vNIAGHIIQ Original Filed Feb. 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2,5 342 2 z5 "lill -mumimmuni@A ATTORNEYS ug. 11, 1936. w. sTRoBRlDGE2,051,014

WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VzoX1-Ta'.

ATTOR N EYS Patented Aug. 11, 1936 Unirse 2,051,014 WASHING MACHINEWilliam Strobridge, Syracuse, N. Y., assigner, by mesne assignments, toReconstruction Finance Corporation, States Application February 13,1932, Serial No.

Renewed .lune 21, 1935 (ci. fis-1s) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to Washing machines or the like of the drum type,and more particularly to the internal construction thereof.

In the past it has been common practice to employ cylinders of the opentype in washing machines of the above character, that is, with nolongitudinal partitions; which cylinders have ususheets as the cylinderrotates. tion of such an open cylinder alternate liftingV of the batchof wash by means of tumbling-ribs distributed circumferentially upon theinterior thereof and the dropping of the lifted batch back into thesolution contained in the bottom of the cylinder. Thus, during theoperation of such an open type cylinder the batch is progressivelysubmerged in the liquid at the bottom oi" the cylinder, is spread outtherein, permitting penetration of the wash water or other treatingliquid, and thereafter submitted to a squeezing action while beinglifted by the tumbling-ribs. Y

In recent years, however, particularly in hotel and institutionallaundries where the degree of The washing acdepends upon the three,forming what is known to -Y pocket-washer. Such cylinders are usuallydivided by transverse vertical partitions to form anywhere from nine totwenty-four pockets, depending upon the length of the cylinder, and eachpocket is provided with a sliding door. Care is taken that these pocketsshall not be of such length as to necessitate the use of a door of toolarge and unwieldy proportion.

By thus dividing the washing cylinder by longitudinal partitions, thedrop and squeeze action of the open type cylinder has been largelyeliminated in the majority of present Y pocket washers except for thelongitudinal row of pockets which for the moment happens to be down incontact the trade as a Y with the liquid in the tub of the washingmachine. Thus, for two-thirds of each revolution of such a corporationof the United a cylinder the load does not come in contact With thesolution.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide apocket-washer in which an improved Washing action is attained. A furtherobject is to provide a pocket-washer of the character described in whichefiicient washing action will take place not only while the batch ofmaterial in a pocket is submerged, but also during its period of travelthrough the tub space above the liquid level. A further object is toprovide a simple and practical means for admitting Washing fluid to apocket during its submergence, removing a portion thereof from contactwith a load carried by said pocket during a succeeding portion of arevolution of the cylinder, and later permitting the stored fluid todescend as a spray upon the batch contained in the pocket. A furtherobject is to provide a practical Y pocket-washer in which the batch ofmaterial contained in any pocket will be successively squeezed togetherand spread out, both in and out of the washing solution and also besubmitted to eiiicient scrubbing action.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exempliedin the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one ofthe variouspossible embodiments of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a washing machine of thetype described, with a part of the tub broken away and with the door inthe tub in raised position showing the door of the washing cylinder inregistry with the tub opening;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through tub land cylinder taken on line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section similar to Fig. 2 of a portion ofthe cylinder showing in clearer detail certain features of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a partial section on enlarged scale taken substantially online 4 4 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views showing the tub and cylinder incross-section with the cylinder in diierent positions so as to'illustrate the cycle of washing operations taking place in any one ofthe pockets during a complete revolution of the cylinder.

Referring to Figs. 1-to4, the washing cylinbing-board action whenprovide a secure der Il! will be seen to be mounted upon horizontaltrunnions II within the heads I2 of the cylindrical tub I3. The cylinderID is divided longitudinally by means of three radially exten-dingpartitions I4 into three sector-shaped compartments, and thesecompartments are further divided by transverse partition walls I5 whichare spaced throughout the length of the cylinder so as to provide "Ypockets I9 of such size as conveniently to handle a batch of wash ofsuitable proportions. In order to improve the washing action takingplace in each of these pockets during a revolution, the cylinder shellis made imperforate but provision is made for the admission of fluid tothe pockets through perforated tumbling-ribs I6 extending respectivelythe full length of the arcuate wall of each pocket and located centrallyor nearly centrally with respect to the radi-al walls thereof. Eachtumbling-rib I6 is perforated along both sides as at I1 and i8` topermit ingress and egress of the fluid to the interior of the cylinderwith equal facility whether the cylinder be rotating in a clockwise orin an anti-clockwise direction. These ribs IS will be, of the open backtype, that is, the cylinder shell will be provided with openings 2i)V inthose portions thereof covered by a rib in order that the tumbling-ribsmay act as scoops when passing through the solution in the tub.

rIfo both sides ofthe radial partitions I4 are secured auxiliarypartitions 2I extending between and making tightv joints with thetransverse partition walls I5. YThese auxiliary partitions 2| arecorrugated,v as shown, in such a manner as to form storage pockets 22distributed along both sides of the radial partitions I4, andcommunication is provided between storage pockets 22 and Y pockets I9Vby performing the. corrugated partitions 2|, as shown at 23. The shapeof the auxiliarypartitions is such as toY offer a scrubthe Ybatch orload slides radially along the partitions either toward o r. away fromthe center of the cylinder as the latter rotates.

A sliding door is provided for eachfY pocket and such a sliding door isshown at 24, particular reference` beingmade to Figs. 1 and 3. This dooris shaped likethe cylinder. periphery and is adapted tov slideperipherally on the outside of the cylinder in ways.25 formed in awell-known manner adjacent the. transverse partitions I5. At its loweror forward edgethe door is provided with a plate 2l designed to enter agroove formed at. the loweredge of the vdoor opening, so as to fit ofthe door whenit is in its closed position. It is tobe understood thatthe details of construction of these features of the door form noessential part of the present invention. It may be noted, however, thatalong its lower edge the door is provided with an angular rib 28extending the full length of the door, projecting inwardly from theinner side of the door and then downwardly toward Vthe lower edgethereof. Adjacent the lateraledges of the door and in front'of the rib28 the door shell is cut away to provide openings 29, giving access topockets 26 vformed between the door, the walls of theangular rib 28 andsuitable transverse partitions3--30- These latter partitions preventiiuid from passing from the interior of the cylinder into the pockets 26in which arel seated certain locking mechanismfor` holding the door inopen and closed position, but which mechanism, forming no part of theVinvention as set i forthrm. the., proseiiov application. neodnot bospecifically described. It will suffice to state that means is providedassociated with the said locking mechanism which, as indicated bynumeral 3I in Fig. 2, is adapted to extend outwardly from the wall ofthe cylinder into the path of the door of the tub to prevent closing ofthe latter except whenthe' cylinder door is locked. A

The tubv door, indicated at 32, is shaped similarly to the door of theinner cylinder and is guided in lateral ways 33. It is also providedwith means, as at 34, for manual operation into open or closed position.

The partitions 30 not only divide the space enclosed by the rib 28 intoend pockets for containing the locking mechanism but they also provide along pocket 35 which may serve as an additional` storage pocket forretaining washing uid. This pocket communicates with the interior of thecylinder by means of a row of perforations 35i distributed along theinner wall of the angular rib., asshoyvn ,in Figs. 1 and 3. The bottomof pocket 35 i s formed by.. achannel 3.1 securedbetween the innersideof the door and the angular rib 28 ,a, r 1 d having its endsdisposed contiguous. tonartitions..

. Bofore dosolbing the operatiomit be well to mentionagain theiatrthatthe entire interior Of tho Cylinder is. divided into ,aplurality of socalled YV pockets the vwalls.ofyyl1-ch are completee lyimportoratathe only provision, tor intake and outlet ofl washing orother cleaning fluid being through. the walls'of the perforated.tumbling-A ribs; andv thatthe radialpartitions are provided uponV bothAsides` with. corrugated or scrubbing-Y boardlile plates. r'iyliioliVaresecured, to the said radial partitions. and perforated in such, a.mannor as to consiguiera plurality of ,elongatedstorage pockets, Aeachof which extendafrom. one transverse partition I 5 to-thenextvvtransverse partition. l5, r .Those rocketscoyer eat-h of. thepartitions. IA substantially fromthecenter of the oyloslorjtoitsperiohery, forming a plurality of Water. rooopioolesslaotecl incertain positionsto rooeiyo thowaslinafluid and in other positions todjsohoro olio fliildin. spray. upon the goods oootoiriodo. theArespective pocket. It. is4 fur-` the?. tobo Iiotod thattiio angular ribs2.8. pro,- volod along, the bottoni. fideos. of eachy door tore.-inforce the door and to provide watertight comrariiilootsior. trie.loplsioemeohanism. serve also '00. Provide 19.11 .Stoogoiioolsotsinadditiooto the the radial. mirti- Storofio. pookotsformal. Hoon.'0,195.1 S1- n B y refoioooeto Figs. organo?, andfoiioyvine. a @rolo of.operations. illustra-ted. by the. ietlto raa-Cll'onlfgn ley bhdGill/hoff. takes 'place io the. sevoialY. pockets. donnee completerevolution of the cylindr. In these gures `the directionY o f rotationis indicated by the arrows. The'storage'pock'et'son the'advancing sidesof the radial'partitions may be calledf leading pockets andlthose on theother side of said partitions followingfI pockets; At A in Fig. 5'may beseen a batch ofwash as'it'is advanced* by a tumbling-rib. In thisposition the batch4 will have a tendency to `valve--off'tumbling-ribperforations upon theleft sideof---theY tumblingribwhile water-will beifreel-y admitted throughy perforationsrinthe.rightside.thereof; '-As the` cylinder rotates thissamecompartmentwill next, be` in a., position `similarI tov .B .Frigo.,'7 HereV it, Will-bo notedffthatthobatoh .oro portioiithereoi;

hosbsen liftooioloee ot tho-fluid andithai, the;

iiiiaolnsfrioilseoboui-,io emerso. froriiiirio. water-7 contained in thetub, after which no more water can enter the pocket. As the pocketpasses from position B to position C in Fig..6, the lifted material willbe effectively squeezed by gravity action before it falls over the inneredge of the tumbling-rib. In position C the solution will stand in thecorner formed between the periphery of the pocket and the rearwardradial partition and into the solution the lifted portion of the batchof material will fall and be more or less tightly compacted to occasiona further squeezing of the material.

From position C through position D to E the batch will lie in thesolution and become more loosely distributed or spread out along theradial partition. At the same time the solution will start to flow alongthe radial partition toward the center of the cylinder until, inposition E, all of the leading pockets will be flooded. Now, as a Ypocket rotates with the cylinder successively to positions G and H, theclothes will slide at rst along the exterior of the leading pockets andthen along the exterior of the following pockets belonging to such Ypocket with a scrubbing action, and then again become partiallysubmerged in the surplus fluid which will have collected in the thenlower corner of the Y pocket. At about the time position H is reachedthe batch will receive a drenching of fluid sprayed from the leadingstorage pockets extending along the rearward or, in this position, theupper partition of the Y pocket.

In position I the load will be in a position, as the Y pocket is againsubmerged, to valve off the left side of the tumbling-rib, preventingegress of fluid from the pocket, but not preventing the subsequentingress of fluid through the perforations in the right side of thetumbling-rib as the latter passes again to positions A and B. It will benoted, also, that as a Y pocket turns from the position shown in H tothat shown in I, fluid contained therein will flow to the tumbling-riband pass outwardly into the tub through the perforations located in theadvancing side of said rib. As during the passage of a Y pocket fromposition E to position F the following storage pockets will be filledwith solution, it follows that while that pocket moves from position H,through I and A to B, fluid from the following pockets will be emptiedupon the batch of wash. 'Ihus the batch will be twice sprayed duringeach revolution.

It should be noted that the washing fluid never passes directly from oneY pocket to another, but is cyclicly taken from and again dischargedinto the tub. This insures that all lint or accumulations of dirt willbe discharged into the tub and finally disposed of when the tub isemptied.

'Ihe perforated corrugated auxiliary partitions, besides formingscrubbing surfaces and storage pockets, also serve effectively toincrease the strength and rigidity of the radial partitions of thecylinder and as they are easily riveted at points between thecorrugations to the radial partitions, as indicated at 42, theconstruction is simple and convenient to make. All the parts coming incontact with the washing fluid are preferably made of a non-corrosivemetal such as Monel and any suitable means may be provided for producingeither continuous or reversed rotation of the cylinder Within the tub.

In Figs. 1 and 2 tub standards are indicated, as at 38, and a centraldump opening is shown at 39 for the discharge of the used Washing s0-lution from the tub. Fresh solution maybe admitted through the conduitG. Any suitable dump-valve may be employed suchas the liftvalve 4I shownin Fig. 2.-

It will be seen that there is provided a construction of an essentiallypractical nature in which the several objects of this invention areattained.v

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it'isto be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, in combination, an outer tub fortreating fluid, a cylinder rotatably mounted in said tub, meanscomprising a pair of spaced imperforate partitions radiating from theaxial center to the periphery of said cylinder for forming aload-carrying pocket therein, the cylinder wall lying between the outeredges of said partitions being imperiorate except a portion thereofmedially disposed with respect to said partitions, which portion isprovided with openings extending through said 2. In a machine of theclass described, in combination, an outer tub for treating fluid, acylinder rotatably mounted in said tub, means comprising a pair ofspaced imperforate partitions radiating from the axial center to theperiphery of said cylinder for forming a load-carrying pocket therein,the cylinder wall lying between the outer edges of said partitions beingimperforate except a portion thereof medially disposed with respect tosaid partitions, which portion is provided with openings extendingthrough said wall, and means on said radial partitions for receiving andwithholding fluid from the interior f said pocket during a period ofrevolution of saidv cylinder and returning said fluid to said pocketduring a `later period of revolution.

3. In a machine of the bination, an outer tub for a treating fluid, acylinder rotatably mounted in said tub, means comprising a pair ofimperforate radial partitions within said cylinder for forming asector-shaped pocket therein, an opening in the peripheral wall of saidpocket disposed substantially centrally with respect to said radialpartitions, said peripheral wall being otherwise imperforate, aperforated tumbling-rib covering said opening and projecting within saidpocket, and a plurality of fluid storage receptacles mounted on saidradial partitions and opening into said pocket adapted to become filledwith fluid flowing over said imperforate partitions during rotation ofsaid cylinder and then to be emptied at a later period during rotationof said cylinder.

4. In a machine of the class described, in combination, an outer tub fora treating fluid, a cylinder rotatably mounted in said tub, meanscomprising a pair of imperforate radial partitions within said cylinderfor forming a sector-shaped pocket therein, an opening in the peripheralwall of said pocket disposed substantially centrally with respect tosaid radial partitions, said peripheral Wall being otherwiseimperforate, a perforated tumbling-rib covering said opening andprojecting within said pocket, a plurality of class described, incomfluid storage receptacles mounted on said radial 4 partitions in saidpocket, an imperforate door slidably mounted upon saidcylinder and.adapted to give access to said pocket, aY fluid storage receptacle onsaid door` providing additional storage space for fluid, and meansconnecting the interiors ofall of said storage receptacles with theinterior of said sector-shaped pocket whereby said storage receptaclesare adapted successively to receive fluid from said sector-shaped pocketas the cylinder rotates and then to return said fluid to the interior ofthe same sector-shaped pocket as a spray. i

5. In a machine of the class described, in combination, an outer tub fora treating fluid, a cylinder rotatably mounted in said tub, meanscomprising imperforate radial partitions within said cylinder for formnga plurality of sectorshaped pockets therein, means comprising Yper,-forated corrugated sheets secured to said partitions to provide aplurality of fluid receptacles presenting scrubbing surfaces Within eachpocket, and means for admitting treating fluid from said tub to theinterior of said sector-shaped pockets.

6. In a machine of the class described, incombination, an Vouter tub fora treating liuid, a cylinder rotatably mounted in said tub, meanscomprising imperforate radial partitions Within said cylinder forforming `Aa plurality of sectorshaped pockets therein, means comprisingperforated corrugated sheets secured to said partitions to provide aplurality of fluid Yreceptacles presenting scrubbing surfaces Withineach pocket, and perforated tumbling-ribs formed on the peripheral Wallsof said pockets and open to the exterior of said cylinder to serve asscoops for supplying fluidl to the interior of said pockets, theperipheral Walls of said pockets being imperforate except whereco-extensive with said tumblingribs.

7,. In a Washing machine, in combination, a tub for washing fluid, acylindrical load container rotatably mounted in said tub and havingradially extending imperforate partitions mounted therein for dividingsaid container into compartments, one of said partitions being providedwith a plurality of longitudinally extending receptacles communicatingwith one of said compartments and adapted to lift fluid contained insaid one compartment and discharge the same upon the load being Washedin the same compartment.

8. In a Washing machine, in combination, a tub for Washing fluid, acylindrical load container rotatably mounted in saidtub and havingradially extending imperforate partitions mounted therein for dividingsaid container into compartments, each of said partitions being providedwith a plurality of longitudinally extending receptacles communicatingwith one of said compartments and adapted to lift uid contained in saidvone compartment and discharge the same upon the load being Washed inthe-same compartment.

9. In a Washing machine, in combination, a tub for washing fluid, animperforate cylindrical load container rotatably mountedin said tub andhaving radially extending imperforate partitions mounted therein fordividing .said container into compartments, said partitions beingprovided with longitudinally extending pockets adapted to lift fluidcontained in said compartments and discharge the same upon the loadbeing washed in said compartments, and perforated baiiies locatedsubstantially centrally-of the peripheral Walls -of saidcompartmentsineregistry with openings in said peripheral walls for inducing thepassage of fluid contained in said tub to and from said compartments.`

10. In a machine of the class described, in combination, an outer tubfora treating fluid, a cylinder rotatably mounted in said tub, meanscomprising Vimperforate radial partitions Within said cylinder forming aplurality of sector-shaped pockets therein, means comprising perforatedcorrugated sheets secured to said partitions to provide a series ofstorage receptacles having scrubbing surfaces within each pocket, andmeans for admitting fluid from said tub to the interior of said pockets.

11. In a machine of the classdescribed, in combination, an outer tub fortreating uid, a cylinder rotatably mounted in said tub, means comprisinga pair of spaced imperforate partitions radiating from the axial centerto the periphery of said cylinder for forming a load-carrying pockettherein, and means on said radial partitions for receiving andWithholding fluid from the interior of said pocket during a period ofrevolution of said cylinder and returning Vsaid uid to said pocketduring a later period of revolution.

12. In a machine of the class described, in combination, an outer tubfor treating fluid, a cylinder rotatably mounted in' said tub, meanscomprising a pair of spaced partitions radiating from the axial centerto the periphery of said cylinder for forming Ya load-carrying pockettherein, and means mounted upon onehof said partitions and forming withan imperforate portion of said one partition a storage chamber adaptedto receive and withhold fluid from the interior of said pocket during aperiod of revolution of the cylinder and to return said fluid to saidpocket during a later period of revolution.

WILLIAM S'IROBRIDGE.

